Passenger-car-door mechanism.



E. ROWNTREE.

PASSENGER GAR DOOR MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1910.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

mae/awo 4 H. ROWNTREE.

PASSENGER CAR DOOR MBGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30. 191'0` Patented Sept.23, 1913.

2 SHBETS-BHBBT 2.

lvm/wwe@ w mw HAROLD ROWNTREE, 0F KENILWORTH, ILLINOIS.

PASSENGER-CAR-DOOR MECHANISM.

.r ,oversee Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 23,1 913.'

Application filed September 30, 1910. Serial No. 584,624.

T0 all whom may concern.'

Be 1t known thatl I, HAROLD RowN'rnEn, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Kenilworth, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Passenger-Car-Door Mechanism, of which the' following is a specification.

This invention relates door mechanism.

The object of the invention is to provide a car door mechanism for street and other assenger ears, which is simple and efficient, and wherein the operation of the doors may he easily accomplished and controlled.

.A further object of the invention is to provide the sides of the car platform with doors so as to inclose the platform, and to control, mechanically or otherwise, the operation of the doors, to open or closed position, from a convenient point inside the platform or car body space, and from such a point as will afford a wide opening and passage through the platform side doorway and across the platform, to or from the body to Apassenger car 'spare of thc car,I to facilitate the entrance or exit of passengers without delay and without undue congestion, and ln'such relatlon as to enable the conductor to stand at the point of door control out of the way of pass'engers to effect the door movements, to collectI the fares, and to generally superintend the boarding and alighting of the passen` gers andthe starting and stopping signals.

A further object is to provide means whereby the car platform may be provided with a wide. side entrance when the doors are fully opened but which may be operated to control a part only of the doorway closure t'o let off passengers, or another portion only to enable passengers 'to board the ear, without electing the entire opening of the platform side doorway.

A further object is to provide a double set of doors forcontrolling the side doorway ot the car platform, which are oper-v able indepel'idently of each other.

A further `object is to vprovide means of the `character referred to having such arrangement and relation as to enable the y, ready application thereof to be made in the conversion of old style cars for fare-prepay- ,ment` and pay-within operation and control'.l l

Other' objects ot' the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set orth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the d1awings,-l `ig11re 1 is a )lan view ofV a car body and its platforms, sliowing a door mechanism embodying the principles of my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a broken view in vertical section showing a form of door operating mechanism elnbodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a modified arrangement of `door operating mechanism in accordance with the principles ofy my invention. Fig. 4 is a view in horizontal secrl"he same part is designated by the same reference sign wherever itoccurs throughout the several views.

In the modern practice of street or other passenger car constructions thetendency is to provide means to insure the collection of fares, to insure the safety of passengers in boarding and alighting, and to facilitate the loading and unloading of the cars, particularly aty points where the tratiic is congested. The idea of fare prepayment as the passengers enter the car, or at a certain point inside the car, has been embodied in various proposed arrangements, and various means for insuring against. boarding and alighting accidents have been designed. Thearrangement which has met with the greatest favor consists in providing the car platform with inclbsing doors for the `side entries or doorways thereof, and means located inside the platform or car body space to control the operation of the door. These door o erating means have been located-at various points. For instance, in one arrangement, the operating means for the rear )latform side doors have been located at tlie front end of the car under control of the motorman. This is excedingly objectionable for the reason that the control and operating ofthe doors at the rear end of the car, is thereby imposed on the motormah in addition to his regular duties and whose attention should be devoted't'o' the running of .the car and perhaps, the operation of the front doors, to let olf passengers, in order to avoid the danger and peril of collision or other accident incident to the car-operation. Moreover, this arrangement necessitates the location v,of the control of the rear platform side doors at a point lwhere the operator thereof cannot personally supervise the boarding and alighting of passengers, but must depend -on signals from the rear.4 platform, thereby increasing the danger of boarding and alighting accidents at the rear end of the car, and causing delay inthe run.-

ning of the car. Another arrangement here tofore employed provides for the use of a double set of doors for the side openings -of the platform, one set controlling vwhat may be termed the entrance, and the other set the exitv ways to and ffrom the latform space on the same side, and means or operating both sets simultaneously. This involves an unnecessary amount of work in requiring the operation of both sets 'of doors on the same side of the platform, or the opening up and closing of both. the entrance Such enlargement of the platform space isnot always possible, particularly where old st-yle cars are to be converted into the paywithin type, and, moreover, at congested points of travel, such arrangement causes J delay in passengers boarding the car by reason of having to pass through a restricted passageway across the platform.

It is` among the special purposes of my y present invention to avoid these and other objections incident to the use of the arrangements above noted, and others now employed and to provide mea-ns which will afford a wide unobstructed passageway across the platform into the car body space, while at the same time inclosing the platform space by side doors controllable from a point within the platform, or car pody space, andv in convenient posit-ion`t`o enable the doors to be operated to 'opened or closed position by the conductor who can thereby personally superintend the boarding and alighting of passengers at the.

rear endof the car, and consequently avoidf.' ing danger of boarding and alightingaccidents, while at the same time enabling the 'conductor to collect the fares frompassengers as they enter, yor from the oint of' door control, eitheron thel plat-omi4 or within the car body space, but soflocated as not to forman obstruction to a wide openin or passageway across the platform to an from the car body space, thereby greatly facilitating the handling of thepassengers, particularly at terminals or other congested points of'trafflc.` And I also propose to.

provide a double setof doorsor door panels,

for the platform side doorway, one -set a-ry rangedv on each of said doorways, the doors or panels arranged to be V independently operated so that 'if a passenger is to board the car at any point or street crossing while4 noneY are to a ight from the car at that point, or if a passenger is to alight and none the particular ldoor vonset required for boar ing, or aligh'ting, as the' case may be, need be operated.

In A,the drawings I have shown, as illus trative of the principles of my invention, a form and arrangement which is simple and .eiicient for carrying'out and 'accomplishing the objects and purposes above noted;

' Reference letter A designates the car body space, and B, the platform space. I have shown the car as provided swit-h a platform,

at both ends, though in this respect and in many other details hereinafter mentioned, .my invention as defined in the claims, is not tobe 'limited or restricted. The platforms are shown as provided with' doorways on each side thereof, with a double lset of doors or panels 5, 6 for the doorway on one side of the platform, and 7 -8, for the ,doorway on the opposite side of the platform. The particular construction, type, and inter-con- 'nection ofthe doors or panels, and the manner of their mountingvand operation, may be varied throughout a wide range without departure from the spirit and scope of my.

Aso `are lto board the` car at the same stop, ony l invention as defined in the claims, vand 1n 'f the details thereof, form no part of the present invention. shown to illustrate a practical and operative embodiment of my invention, the `various doors or panels constituting a set 5, 6, 7 or 8, are hinged together at their meeting or proximate edges, the outer or primary niember of each set being connected to-a.rockfshaft, 9, l0, 11, l2, and the other members being guided in any suitable way to rock or In the particular form llQ l swing into folded relation upon the primary` member, as the latter is rocked or swung in l '12o the panels or doors of each set are disposed` "3*:

opening` the door. When inopen position transversely ofthe platform and car while in closed position said door or panel sections are distended into line with 'each other and in the direction ofthe length of the car.

rlhedoor panel sections 5', 6, are arranged `to, cooperate in controlling the doorway on one sidezof the platform, -while the'sections A occasion may require, without opening or closing the other.

Any suitable means may be employed for effecting the opening and closing movements of the panel sections. ment' is shown for illustrative purposes, wherein the shafts 9, l0, 11, 12, to which the primary section or panels of the varioussets are respectively connected are respectively provided with crank arms 13, 14, 15, 16, and to each crank arm 1s connected one end of an operating rod 17, 18, 1S), 20,'

through which said crank arms, and with them their associated shafts and primary door panel sections are rocked.

I have shown the sets 5, 6, of door panels arranged on one side of the platform, at one end of the car, and on the opposite side of the platform at the other end of the car. The sets 7, 8, are in similar relation. This is the arrangement for double-ended cars where either end, according to requirements, may be utilized as the motormans end. It is obvious, however, that my invention, as defined in the claims, is not to be limited in this respect.` In this arrangement the motorman is stationed on the platform at o-ne end of the car and the conductor is stationed at the other en'd of the car. At the motormans end of the car the doors on one side ofthe platform may he kept closed all the time While those on the 4other` side may be opened and closed to permit passengers to alight fro the car. The passengers enter the car on y at the rear or conductors end, although they may also alightfromv the car at that end, the doors on one side of the platform being kept closed while those on the other side are operated to open or close as occasion may require to permit entrance or exit of passengers. With this arrangement the conductor and motorman may, it

desired, shift their respective stations from one end of the car to the other according to the direction of travel of the car.

The door section actuating rods 17, 18, 19, 20, may be operated by any suitable or convenient. operating mechanism. For illustrative purposes I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2; one arrangement for operating the rods 19, 20, wherein said rods are connected to crank arms 21, 22, on gear Wheels 40, 41,

i respectively meshing with racks 23, 2i.

These racks are connected to vertical rods 25, 26,Which carry racks 27, 28, 'at their other ends. Gear Wheels 29, 30, respectively A simple arrange- A engage said racks 27, 28, said gear wheels 29, 30, having crank arms 31, 32, by which they may be independently operated. This W i i illu afi'ords a very simple and eficient structure for the required purpose, though it is evident that other arrangements may be e1n` ,i ployed, and in Fig. 3, I have shown .a modified arrangement wherein rod 19 is connccted eccentrically to a disk or collar 33, carried at one end of a tube or pipe 31, the other end of said tube or pipe having an operating arm or lever 35, whereby said pipe may be rotated. tuating rod 20 is similarly connected errentrically to a disk or collar 3G, on one end of 'rod or pipe 437, :which extends through the pipe 34, and at its other end carries an operating handle 38. This arrangement has the advantages of simplicity and cheapncss of construction. The operating rods 17, 18, for the door sections 7, 8, on the lother side of the plat-form from the door sections 5, 6,

vmay be actuated in a similar, or in any other suitable or convenient manner, Iand whether 'independently or in unison. As these door sections are ordinarily designed to control the doorway only for thc exit of passengers in alighting from the car, the necessity ior independent operation of the sections 7, 8 does not ordinarily exist. In this case said sections may be operated in unison, and this is the arrangement shown, wherein the door actuating rods 17, 18, are controlled in their operation from 'a single operating or control handle 39, carried by a shaft 42, on which is mounted a collar 48, to which one end of the rods 17, 18 are eccentrically connected.

The control devices for the respective sets of doors on opposite sides of the platform may be located at any suitable or convenient point. I have shown the door control lever 39 for the actuating rods 17, 18 of door panels 7, 8, as located on the front dash board ot' the car in convenient position to be operated by the motorman, and I have shown the control levers or handles 3l, 32, or 35 38, located inconvenient position to define a conductoi"s station from which station fares may be collected as passengers enter the car, and the sets o, (i, of door panels may be independently operated as exigcncy may require. In the attainment of the full object and purpose of my invention, and in order to avoid obstructing the passage way between the car body and platform, and to secure the widestpossible space, .while still retaining the features of separate entrance and exit doors for the platform doorway, and a fare prepayment station, I locate the control devices for the door panels 5, (i, so as to define a conductors station inside the platform opinar body space and at one side of the passageway between the `car bodyl and platform spaces. 1:304

The other door ac` This stationmay be.. inside. the. transverse bulkhead partition between the' car body space and platform, as shown at the leftvhand end of Fig.- 1, or. it maybe outsldel of 44said bulkhead partition as lshown at the right hand end of Fig.' 1.

Of course, it will be obvious that trans! verse bulkhead partitions-and. doo'fs may or 'may not beernployed but since the platform sidedoors form a vestibuled platform, the

bulkhead doors, ordinarily, arenotrequired;

npractice I preferto'locate'the conductors station on that side of the passageway leading across the platform to the car body space, which is farthest removedfrom the platform side doorway, that is, opposite' said doorway, and I' also prefer to use that portion of the platform vside doorway which'` is nearest-the end of the car as the entry way for passengers boarding the car. Wlth this larrangement ofentry way and conductors station' the prepayment of fares by' i boarding passengers as they pass the coni as ductor who is located on the far side of said passageway, insures the collection of a fare from each passenger, while crowding of passengers, and the delay incident to.

'- boarding the carat congested points of travel are avoided.`

Having now 'set forth the object and nature of my invention and constructions em- 4-` bodying the principles thereof, what I claim Aing and leaving passengers, and means for as newy and useful and of my own inven`V tion, and desire to secure by Letters I atent of the United States is,-

1. A car having a body and a platform, a side doorway for the plat-form, a door therefor, a vsingle ywide unobstructed `passage between the platform side doorway and the car body vfor use in common of entermoving the door to open or closed position, saidmeans located at the side of said passage op vosite and farthest from the doorway'an serving to establish a'station. at

' which the conductor collects the fares of vse .entering passengers and also controls the form, and means for operating said door, andcontrolllng'devices therefor, said controlling deviceslocated at the side of said` passage and 'serving to establish a station at which the conductor collects the fares ofentering passengers and also controls the operation of the platform side doors. y

3. A car having a body and a platform,

aside doorway for ythe platform,.aidoor` therefor, a'- single wide unobstructed passage between the platform side doorway and the car body for the use in common of entering and 'leaving passengers, said passageway extending the full width ofthe car body space where merging with the platform, means for operating said door, and

controlling devices therefor, said controlling devices being located at the side of said passageway o posite and -farthest removed from the plat orm side doorway and serving to establish a station at which the conductorl collects the fares of entering passengers and also controls the operation of the platform side doors.

@LA car having a body and a platform, a side doorway for the platform, an entry way between the platform and car body, an unobstructed single wide passage between said side doorway and said entry way, a

door` for the side doorway, and means for operating said door, said means being controllable from a point located at one side of said passage,and. adjacent said entry way' and serving to establish a station at which the collection of fares of entering passengers and also the operations ofthe. plat- .form side doors are controlled.

5. A car having a body and a platform, a side doorway for the platform, an entry way between the platform and the car body, an unobstructed single wide passage between said side doorway and said entry way, a bulkhead partition defining one si e of said entry Way, a door for the side doorway, and

means for operating said door, and controlling devicesv therefor, said devices located adjacent said bulkhead partition and serving toestablish a station at which the collection'bf fares of entering passengers and also the operation of the platform side fdoor's are controlled.

' 6. A car having a body and a platform, v

a side ,doorway for the platform, doors cooperating to close said doorway, a single wide unobstructed passage between said side i doorway and the car body 4for use in common of entering and leaving passengers, and means for independent-ly opening and closing said doors, said means 'located at the side of said passage opposite and farthest 1 from theside doorway, and serving tb `establish astation at which the conductor col-v lectsA the fares of entering passengers and also controls the operation of the platform side doors.

7.- A car having a seating portion and a boarding and alighting portion, a side doordoors for said'doorway, a slngle wide un# obstructed passage between said side doorlao vway for the boarding and. alighting portion,

Wayand the seating portion ofthe car for use .1n common of passengers entering and leavlng said seating portion, and means for moving said doors to open or closed posi-y rec tion, said means located at the side of said my hand in the presence of the subscribing passage opposite and farthest from the witnesses; on this 6th day of September doorway and serving to establish a station A. D. 1910.

at which the conductor collects the fares of HAROLD ROWNTREE. entering passengers and also controls the Witnesses: operation of sait] sitle doors. MAE W. CLINTON,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set S. E. DARBY.

'Copies of this patent may be obtained for vc cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Intenta,

Washington, D. C. 

